Holiday closings set
Several agencies announced their holiday closings for New Year’s Day. Pine Bluff City Hall and related offices will be closed Friday and Monday, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Jefferson County Courthouse will be closed Friday and Monday, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
State offices will be closed Monday, New Year’s Day.
Simmons to announce earnings
Simmons First National Corp. is scheduled to release fourth quarter 2023 earnings prior to the market opening on Jan. 24. Management will conduct a live conference call to review this information beginning at 9 a.m.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Interested parties can listen to the call by dialing toll-free 1-844-481-2779 (North America only) and asking for the Simmons First National Corp. conference call, conference ID 10185194. The call will be available live or in recorded version at simmonsbank.com under “Investor Relations.” The recorded version will be available for at least 60 days following the date of the call, according to a news release.
SBA sets disaster loan deadline
Low-interest disaster loans are available in Jefferson County, , according to the newsletter from the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding Arkansas businesses and residents of the Jan. 16, 2024, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for property damage caused by the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred June 25-26, 2023.
Businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters may apply for SBA federal disaster loans to repair or replace disaster damaged property. SBC can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future, according to the newsletter. Details: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.
Rice board takes grant proposals
The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board is accepting grant proposals for rice research and promotion through Jan. 25, according to a news release.
PROPOSALS FOR PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD:
State the goals and objectives of the promotional activity;
State the expected benefits to the Arkansas rice industry from the proposed promotional efforts;
Seek to promote generic rice and non-specific business entities;
Explain how the entity will be accountable for its use of the requested funds;
Present audited financial statements.
Funds cannot be used to duplicate activities funded by other programs.
RICE RESEARCH PROPOSALS SHOULD:
State the goals and objectives of the proposed research;
State the expected benefits to the Arkansas rice industry from the proposed research;
Explain how the entity will be accountable for its use of the requested funds;
Present audited financial statements.
Proposals should be submitted electronically to Cynthia Edwards at cynthia.edwards@agriculture.arkansas.gov or by mail at 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, Ark., 72205, by 5 p.m. Jan. 25.
A funding goal of $2.8 million for research proposals has been established by the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. The amount available for proposals for promotional activities will be established at the board’s Feb. 1 meeting. Details: https//arkrice.org.